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Occupy began with the ideal of equality for all. Equality of men and women, rich and poor, racially, socially and legally. It started out with the idea that we all share the same rights and responsibilities, that the rich man is no less accountable for his crimes than the poor man. That we all have the right to be treated with kindness and respect, be we sane or mentally challenged, sober or drug addicted.

When the camp was in Olympic Plaza all were welcome; wealthy banker or drunk homeless person. At least on the surface. The truth is, prejudice and judgement are deeply ingrained in each of us as human beings.

I have witnessed racism, sexism, defamation and character assassination by those who fly the banner of equality under which this movement was founded. I have seen a man hounded for months by people he tried to help, for the offence of poor communication and self expression. His life has been deeply affected, his reputation ruined, friends turned against him.

I have heard the cry of racism from people sheltered and loved by a multicultural community; people treated with great respect despite personal flaws as glaring as the man who is even now being persecuted intolerably.

We can never succeed if, each time some person speaks or acts in a way we don’t personally like, we cast aside the values that form the foundation of this movement. It must be more than words, for the great change humanity so desperately needs must start within each one of us who claims to care.

If we behave in the very ways we find repugnant in others, what right have we to protest the behaviour of others? If we slander, accuse, persecute and generally alienate even one person, how on earth are we to grow towards the welcoming, loving equality that is our goal? If we are willing to hurt or harm any person to satisfy our prejudices or paranoia we have failed. This failure is our greatest one, and it has always been with us. It must be overcome or we have lost already.

That’s right. You are no better than those you criticize and neither am I. Look into the eyes of the human being before you and see yourself reflected there. He or she is your equal and deserves your respect no matter who they are, as you deserve theirs. But it starts with you.

This letter seeks an acknowledgment that certain damages the City accused Occupy Calgary of in the media, were unsubstantiated and found to be so in a court of law by the Chief Justice of Alberta. At the time of his ruling Justice N.C Wittmann concluded various costs submitted by the City could not stand up to judicial scrutiny, specifically :

Although the ruling was passed down many months ago, no credible effort has been undertaken by the City to correct this wrong. Recently the City has presented additional damages to the media also attributed to Occupy, but an itemized list has not yet been made available when requested. Therefore this letter seeks recognizance only for the costs that did go before judicial scrutiny, and were struck down in the Justice’s ruling:

“I think it is appropriate to add that there is very little evidence that the Occupy Calgary group itself has caused damage aside from some wear and tear to the turf upon which they have erected their tents…I appreciate that there is significant public interest in this matter. The citizens of Calgary should know that the Occupy Calgary group at Olympic Plaza has been benign.”
-Justice Wittmann, Dec 6th – page 14: 8 – Conclusion – [49]

Please issue a public voluntary retraction for claims regarding the $34,214.75 in damages that Justice Wittmann found to be unassociated with Occupy Calgary.

One day
The wind, land and sky
Will crumble and die
The sea will dry
And the birds will not fly,
The rain will not fall
The sun will not shine
“But why?” you’ll ask the Creator,
and he’ll say “because it’s all mine.”
Our existence will be gone
Just toward the end
Blind in the darkness
With nothing left to mend
Locked in without faith
Swallowed by fear
Never ever knowing
Why you were here
As the years pass by
You struggle and fight
Having everything good taken away from you
You know this can’t be right
Standing up proud
Standing up strong
Learning acceptance
You strive to live on
Come back sun
Come by sky
No more fear
Because your faith will never die.

Actions that are good for the environment are also good for our health
Toronto, ON (15/03/2012)—Earth Day Canada is issuing action-based challenges urging all Canadians (kids, classrooms, groups, businesses, individuals and families) to make positive changes to their daily habits. The challenges run from April 1 to April 30, 2012 and encourage participants to take up a new action for 21 days, a period long enough for the action to become a part of their daily routine.
For kids, classrooms and schools

Through the kid-friendly campaign, Act for the Planet, Earth Day Canada’s EcoKids program, with prizing from Sony Canada, is offering kids a chance to get involved on their own terms. Kids will have all month long to do something good for the planet (and remind their parents to do their part, too!)

Fun and easy actions include
•Creating window decals to prevent bird crashes
•Making planters to clean inside air
•Bringing their own water bottle
•Making something new out of something old.

For youth, adults, families and businesses

For the rest of us, lifestyle choices are typically based on convenience, complacency and habit, but these come with a price. Earth Day Canada’s Take It Up for Earth Day campaign can help you make better decisions about what you eat, drink and what resources you use. Try something new that’s good for you and the planet!

Take up one (or more) of these pro-environmental behaviors
•Eat and prepare plant-based foods at home
•Drink tap water and get water wise
•Care: Detox your personal care routine
•Move: Activate your lifestyle with outdoor, unplugged activities.

“We know that beyond air, food and water quality, the types of products we use on a daily basis, as well as the amount of activity we get, can have substantial effects on our health and the environment,” says Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. “These campaigns help inform people about the environmental and health impacts of the decisions they make on a daily basis, while encouraging them to adopt behaviours that will improve the health of their families and communities.”

The 2012 Earth Day challenges also offer
•Step-by-step guides that kids, teachers/group leaders can use
•Tips and activities for individuals, groups and businesses to work together to keep commitments
•Information about the health and environmental benefits of actions
•Chances to win great prizes and rewards.

Feel ready? Visit earthday.ca, register your commitment(s) and join other Canadians this spring to make change a habit!

About Earth Day Canada

Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004 it was recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative year-round programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world’s largest association of environmental educators. In 2008 it was chosen as Canada’s “Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. http://www.earthday.ca

The word mark “Earth Day” and the Earth Day logo are registered trademarks of Earth Day Canada (1991) Inc. Charitable registration # 13195 1378RR0001. Use of either of these trademarks for mercantile, promotional and communication purpose is strictly forbidden without the written approval of Earth Day Canada.

We are most gracious to the Unitarian Church of Calgary for presenting this award to Occupy Calgary. Thanks for your consideration and hospitality today! For those who weren’t able to attend, you may watch below.

Many of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. are quickly eroding as the nation transforms from the land of the free into the land of the enslaved, but what I’m about to share with you takes the assault on our freedoms to a whole new level. You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials,that rain belongs to someone else.